Brush making machine



y 1941' J. G. BAUMGARTN ER 2,243,495

BRUSH MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1938 G Sheets-Sheet 1 6 Sheets-Sheet 2- J.G. BAUMGARTNER BRUSH MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1938 3 mm X, bunk ,i 1

y 1941- J. G. BAUMGARTNER BRUSH MAKING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 23. 1958 mgarfize W 4.

y 1941- J. G. BAUMGARTNER 2,243,495 BRUSH MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1938 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 y 1941- J. G. BAUMGARTNER BRUSH MAKING MACI-IIlIE Filed Aug. 23, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1941- r J. G. BAUMGAR'II'NER 2,243,495.

BRUSH MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 John G Patented May 27, 1941 BRUSH MAKING MACHINE John G. Baumgartner, Aurora, 111., assignor to National Brush Company, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 23, 1938, Serial No. 226,324

20 Claims.

My invention relates in general to automatic machinery wherein a single machine accomplishes a number of related operations to manufacture a single complete product. More in particular, my invention relates to improvements in a power driven automatic machine for making brushes of various types.

Automatic machinery for making brushes of various types employing fibrous or relatively fine wire stock secured by means of staples in a back of Wood or similar material, has been used for a relatively great number of years. Improvements have been made inthis machinery through the years, but such machines prior to the present invention still remained rather complicated mechanisms, which were relatively wasteful so far as the consumption of brush material was concerned, and relatively inefficient from the standpoint of speed and cost of operation of the machine. In

addition, the dimensions of various elements of these machines had to be maintained within narrow limits, and the co-action of elements had to be so precise and accurate due to the peculiar con struction of the machines that almost constant machining and repair has been necessary to maintain such machinery in even fairly efficiently operating condition. Unless this precision is maintained the quality of the brushes manufactured thereby decreases perceptibly, and, of course, the rejects increase materially in number. sults in high maintenance costs and, of course, results in the machinery being out of use for a considerable part of the normal operating time. Furthermore, even with the high maintenance costs, there has still been a lack of uniformity in the product, and manufacturing costs have been increased as the number of rejects increases. In such prior brush-making machines, difiiculties have also been encountered in using all types and qualities of brush stock, the machines requiring the more expensive grades of stock for automatic operation in some instances, thus increasing costs of production.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic brush-making machine which is improved over the prior art machines in all of the elements and portions thereof which have been troublesome heretofore.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a simplified high-speed automatic machine for making brushes which operates at high efficiency and with very small maintenance costs.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a machine which will manufacture brushes-which are superior in quality and uniformity to similar This re- 0 brushes manufactured by the prior art. machines.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a machine which will operate satisfactorily upon a greater number of different types and qualities of brush stock in the manufacture of the brushes, so that a wider range of brush materials both as to cost and texture, may be employed, to in turn provide for greater flexibility of the machine as to variations of the manufactured product and the selling price therefor.

One of the features of the machine of my inventionis a reciprocating picker bar for receiving a measured quantity of brush stock from a stored supplywhile the bar is stationary and then quickly and cleanly separating such quantity from the supply and packing it into a tuft while at the same time carrying such tuft into position to be driven into a brush block. In the picker bar and cooperating packer bar of my invention, a uniform quantity of stock is removed from the supply magazine during each operation of the picker bar regardless of the clinging quality or softness of the brush material being worked upon, and the individual strands are normally in alinement. A picking operation is accomplished, furthermore, in a manner such that the material is separated cleanly from the remaining stock in the supply magazine without substantially any pieces dropping therefrom to be entirely wasted. In addition, the material is packed into a narrow slot so that a staple may be passed thereover quite easily. a This permits simplification of the stapleforming mechanism, which simplification is another feature of the invention.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of a relatively simple pivoted wire-carrying and staple-forming jaw portion performing its'function in a complete brush-making operation of the machine in timed relation to the picker bar so that a staple is ready to straddle the tuft in the bar and move therewith to the brush block as will be explained. In the corresponding mech.

anism employed in the prior art machines complicated reciprocating apparatus including a slide was provided which had a relatively large number of moving parts carried in guide slots and the like so that in the position of such mechanism on the complete machine, dust and other foreign substance arising from the brush-making operation accumulated in' the lubricated parts and readily clogged such parts making relatively frequent shut-downs necessary.

A still further feature of .my invention is the provision, in a simpler and improved form, of staple-carrying fingers mounted on a vertically reciprocating block and adapted to form the staple on the staple-forming jaws, and then place the staple over the tuft carried in the picker bar to double up such tuft and carry it down through the frame of the machine to a brush block in position therebelow, where the staple With the tuft therein is positioned over a corresponding aperture therein, and driven into the block by a punch slidable intermediate said fingers. A precision cam structure between the punch and fingers was provided in the prior art machines which had to be machined, and then repaired, at frequent intervals to maintain this precision relationship, thus providing expensive maintenance costs and taking the machine out of operation much of the time. The careful machining of the prior art structures is eliminated and much higher efficiency at a great deal lower maintenance cost is obtained.

Another simplification is obtained in connection with the driving mechanism for these staple carrying fingers. In prior art machines the fingers were mounted on a slide which Was driven by a bell crank through a complicated link structure including two cross-heads and two adjustable connecting bars. Although this complicated adjustable structure may be desirable in some instances, in a commercial embodiment of my invention I have substituted therefor a simple one piece link for the complicated link of the prior art.

A further feature of my invention is one which relates to increasing the output of the machine by virtue of having less idle time during normal operation. Heretofore, the brush blocks have been secured in place manually and released manually, and during this operation the machine would have to stand idle. According to the present invention the blocks are released automatically when the work thereon is completed and the ture for the machine as a whole and particularly the table upon which the brush blocks are releasably retained.

One of the outstanding advantages of the machine of my invention is the high speed automatic operation obtained substantially without waste when making brushes .with any type of quality of brush stock, and producing a brush having tufts with uniform bulk throughout, thereby reducing the rejects to a minimum, and increasing the general quality of the finished products. This advantage is obtained in continuous operation of the machine over long periods of time with substantially no maintenance or repair except the normal lubricating, so that the machine is operating at maximum efliciency for practically the entire available working time.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of one side of the brush-making machine comprising this invention, this side being called the front for convenience of designation.

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved brush clamping construction of this invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1 showing particularly the picker bar on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view. showing the picker bar.

- on the line of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the picker bar in an intermediate position under the packer block.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 99 of Fig. 1,

showing particularly the relationship of the staple-carrying fingers, the wire-feeding jaws, and the picker bar positioned to cooperate therewith.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the action of the staple fingers in forming the staple and positioning it around the tuft of stock carried by the picker bar. The initial shape of the staple wire is shown in full lines, the subsequent shape and position of the staple in two successive positions is shown in dotted lines.

Fig. .11 is a corresponding view showing the final position of the staple-carrying fingers.

Fig. 12 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating the automatic clamp control feature of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary rear view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view of the cam controlling the wire-feeding jaws.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 14.

Fig; 16 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line l5l6 of Fig. 1, showing particularly the pivoted wire-feeding arm of the invention.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to that of Fig. 3 of a modification of the picker bar and associated tuft packing structure.

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view along the line l8-l8 of Fig. 1'7.

Fig. 19 is a perspective detailed View of the tuft packing element from the structure of Fig. 17.

Itis believed that the invention as a Whole can be best understood after understanding the general operation of the machine. This general operation can perhaps best be explained by briefly describing the course of the bristles of the brush from the magazine ll to the brush block I 2, into which tufts of the bristles are secured by staples to form the brush.

General operation The magazine H contains a supply of stock B which may be any suitable material such as bristles, hairs or fine wire which are neatly arranged side by side in a horizontal position. It is necessary to separate a tuft of the stock from the supply of stock in the magazine II, and this is accomplished by means of a reciprocating picker bar I-3 which slides on table 15 and which has a slot or notch I4 therein, into which the proper quantity of the stock B is scooped by a claw IS. The construction and operation of the picker bar 13 and its associated parts is an important part of the invention, which is discussed in detail below. It is sufficient for the present to mention that the notch M is relatively narrow and'that the stock is positively forced therein by co-action between the claw l3 and a wiper or packer block H which also insures a clean separation of the stock for the tuft from the supply stock.-

'I he picker bar l3 carries the stock for the tuft to a position under a pair of staple-carrying fingers l8 and also under a wire-carryinganvil [-9 on which a cut length of wire 3 is held .by a jaw 21. The wire-carrying fingers l8 .move downwardly to bend the wire S about the anvil l9 toform a staple, after which the anvil is withdrawn. The mounting of the anvil comprises another feature of the invention and is described in detail below. As the anvil is withdrawn, the staple is carried down and applied in a straddling position over the center of the tuft stock in the notch [4. As the fingers it continue their downward movement through or adjacent to the picker bar 13, they double up the tuft stock to form a tuft and carry it with the staple into juxtaposition with the brush block i2 which will previously have been drilled with holes to receive the tufts. During the downward movement the fingers l8 may be moved slightly toward one another by engaging rollers 22 so as to compress the staple slightly, to compact the tuft better, and to insure its fitting into the hole inthe brush block l2. This also insures that the staple will be held firmly by the fingers 13.

When the fingers l8 have carried the staple with the tuft therein into juxtaposition with the brush block 12, a staple driver 23 positioned between the fingers drives the staple into the block I2 to secure the tuft therein. As the parts return to the position shown in Fig. 1 a set of cams including the cam 24 (Fig. 12) move the table 26, on which the brush block i2 is secured. to a position to insert the next tuft in the block l2 and also move the guard memberll' in such a way as to keep the tufts already in the brush out of the way of the tuft being applied, which is carried through the guard 21 by the fingers it. When the entire brush is completed, the brush block I2 is automatically released by operation of an air cylinder 28 and a clamp 2% controlled thereby. This automatic release of the brush l2 and the subsequent automatic clamping of the new brush block comprises another feature of the invention and is described in detail below.

Detailed description The picker bar 13, whose operation was generally described above, is seen best in Figs. 3 to.8. In Fig. 3 it is seen in its left-hand position with the notch l4 empty. The brush stock B in-magazine ll rests on a retaining surfaced! formed by the top of a bar 32 which is one portion of the picker bar 13. In addition to theportion 32, the picker bar l3 includes a portion 33 which is adjustably spaced from the portion 32 by a connecting bar 34 which is rigidly secured to the portion 32. The portion 33 is firmly clamped to the connecting bar 34 by screws 35- which pass through a slot 3'! in the portion 33 and screw into a clamp member 38 which has anextens-ion 39 thereon, which for convenience may be called the side rest of the picker bar i3. "3y loosening screws 3.6 the size of the notch l -ican be adjusted.

The claw i5 is preferably formed as the end of a plate 4% which is secured in a longitudinal recess S2 of the portion 33. The top of the plate M and hence the point or leading edge of the claw l6 are spaced slightly above the retaining surface 31 and therefore, as the picker barlii is moved to the right as seen in Fig. 3 by any suitable mechanism represented by link :33, the claw [B will tend to scoop into the notch it all of the stock resting on the surface 3! which is below the top of the claw it. In other words, the claw it slices through the supply of brush.

stock B and separates that quantity which is to be used in the instant tuft from the rest of the supply. This quantity is accurately measured by the height of the point of the claw it above the retaining surface 3| and by the width of the magazine I i from a fixed wall M to an adjustable Wall 45. The brush stock B is kept under a relatively'constant pressure by a weighted plate W seen in Fig. 1.

Because of the large cross-sectional size of the wide space between the walls 44 and 45 of the magazine I I, the brush stock B moves readily against the surface 3| so that it always fills the space thereabove in the magazine H with uniform compactness. It is, however, a very different matter to get this stock into a. notch such as the notch I l and particularly into one as narrow as is the notch l4. With many types of brush stock and with the notch as narrow as is often desired for the notch M the effect of the weighted plate to merely press the stock into the notch 14 by gravity would be entirely inadequate, even if the notch l4 opened directly upwardly as in the prior art machines. According to the present invention, however, the stock is forced into the notch l4 very effectively by co-action between the claw I5 and the buffer or packer block ll. The packer block ll may conveniently be made up of two portions, namely a main portion 41 and a side plate 48. These two members are rigidly secured together and are rigidly mounted upon a fiXed bracket 5| on the machine frame. The main portion 41 of the packer block ll slidably engages the retaining surface 3!. As the picker bar [3 slides to the right in Fig. 3, the plate All passes through a channel 52 in the packer block ll. It will be observed, in other words, that the packer block ll overlaps the plate M on both sides with the result that there is no chance for the brush stock to pass between these two members, and therefore that which has been scooped into the notch It is separated with certainty from the remaining supply in the magazine ll. Furthermore, the side plate 48 of the packer block I! extends below the retaining surface 3! so as to minimize any tendency of the stock to cling to the surface 3i and pass under the main portion 41 of the packer block ll. Furthermore, both the side plate 48 and the main portion 4'! are tapered at their leading ends, the ends facing the claw it, so that they exert a packing effect on the brush stock within the notch Hi, pressing this stock firmly down into the notch. The tapered or beveled end por-.

tions also cooperate with the claw H5 in separating the brush stock within the notch from that in the magazine more effectively than if vertical ends were employed, for instance. The cam shaped portion of the packer block I! should extend high enough at its end to be positioned over the stock which is in the highest position in which it can be left by the packing-down action of the claw IS. The portion 33 may be positioned entirely below the level of retaining surface 3| so as to insure adequate clearance.

The shaping of the parts is very important in obtaining uniformly satisfactory separation and packing of the stock for the individual tufts. Various features of this shaping are seen best in Figs. 3 and 5. The underportion of the claw i5 is rounded so as to direct the stock gently down into the notch M. The upper corner 52 of the portion 32. adjacent the claw i6 is. also beveled or rounded to facilitate the passage oi the stock therearound. The leading corner 55 of the portion 33 is also beveled or rounded so as to facilitate the compacting of the stock down into the notch I4 by action of the packer block I1.

The notch I4 is in reality a slot or passage between the portions 32 and 33 of the picker bar I3. The tuft stock which is packed into this slot I4 is restrained from falling therethrough by resting on the connecting bar 34 at one side and on the side rest 39 at the other side. It will be observed that the side rest 39 is spaced from the main portion of the picker bar at the position of the slot I4. The space between the side rest 39 and the picker bar 13 is provided to permit the passage of the fingers I8 therethrough. Thus, after the picker bar has moved to the right to separate a tuft of stock from the supply in magazine II, it continues to the right to position this tuft under the fingers I8.

Figs. 17 to 19 inclusive, illustrate a modification, but in some respects a preferred embodiment as to the picker bar and packer block portions of the complete machine of my invention. Although a relatively rigid sliding connection between the packer block I1 and picker bar I3 has been found satisfactory on the smaller brush machines embodying my invention, a resilient sliding connection has been more satisfactory in the larger machines. Such a connection is accomplished by supporting the picker bar I3 on a floating channeled plate I16 resiliently supported in a channel I1I in the machine table I5, as shown particularly in Figs. 17 and 18. The plate is supported therein by a. plurality of springs I12 carried in additional cavities I13 in the table I5, and surrounding adjusting screws I14 which extend from underneath the table upwardly for threaded connection with the plate I16. These screws may be employed to originally level the plate I as desired, and at the same time act to adjust the spring tension in the springs I13 by virtue of the leveled or adjusted position of the plate I16 and the axial length of the springs. The picker bar I3, which is identical with that previously described, is moved with a reciprocating action in the channel I16 in the plate I10. This channel corresponds to the channel out directly in the table I6, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

With this mounting for the picker bar I3, the latter is urged upwardly against a packer block I1 rigidly supported by the fixed bracket 5| on the machine frame. The packer block I1 comprises a one-piece member as contrasted to the two piece packer block l1, but includes a channel 52' longitudinally thereof to receive the claw I6 and portion 4| of the picker bar I3 in the same manner as previously described. The leading ends of the packer block H are beveled or tapered in the same manner as described with reference to the packer block I1, but with this embodiment of the invention it is unnecessary to provide the plate 48 with a cam-shaped lower edge, and the back portion of the packer bloc k I1 corresponding to that portion represented by the plate 48, and packer block I1 extends toward the fingers I8 with a straight line edge parallel to the straight line edge of the front portion of the packer block I1 as can be seen in Fig. 17.

The tuft, as T, which would normally be carried in the slot I4, but which is not illustrated in Fig, 1'1 due to the position of the picker bar in that figure, is compressed therein by means of a generally U-shaped member I11 illustrated for vertical adjustment only, in order to varythe distance of the same from the packer block I1 as will be described. The member I11 comprises a pair of legs I8I and I82 extending in a generally U-shape from the mounting portion I18 and at right angles thereto for straddling.

the reciprocating picker bar I3. Each leg has a rounded or cam-shaped portion I83, at such a position therein as to lie substantially below the leading end portion of the packer block I1 as can be seen in Fig. 1'1. As the picker bar I3 moves to the right, as illustrated in Fig. 1'1, with a full tuft in the slot I4 received from the magazine II, such tuft is pressed upwardly by the cam portions 83 to be compressed intermediate such portions and the lower surface of the packer block I1. This action also assists in the operation of separating the tuft from the stock in the magazine. The right-hand end of the leg I82 of the member I11 is off-set to permit the fingers I8 to extend downwardly therethrough, and an up-turned end I84 is provided on each of the legs I8I and I82, to act as stops in some instances for the tuft and consequently for the picker bar I3.

s shown in Fig. 17, five sets of screws I14 and springs I12 thereon are provided for supporting the plate I10 substantially over the length thereof. This number may be varied as desired so long as a proper balance is maintained by the plate I10 and packer block I1 so that the picker bar slides over a level but resilient base. It is also understood that this resilient mounting for the picker bar I3 may be satisfactorily employed with the packer block I1 without the use of the member I11.

Before describing in detail the operation of the fingers I8 it may be best to describe the manner in which the cut length of wire S is supplied thereto. Referring now to Fig- 13, it is seen that a continuous length of wire 56 is supplied to the machine from any suitable reel, not shown. This Wire is intermittently fed by a pair of rollers 51, at least one of which is driven and knurled. The driven roller 51 is driven intermittently so as to feed the Wire between operations of the cutter. The intermittent drive may be in the form of a ratchet wheel 58 and pawl 59 driven by an eccentric 6| on a shaft 62, which shaft will of course be driven in timed relation with the rest of the machine.

Through another eccentric on shaft 62 a bell crank lever 63 is driven to reciprocate a sleeve 64 pivoted thereto, which adjustably carries a link 65, and this in turn reciprocates a wire cutter 66 which reciprocates through a guide 61 to out the wire when a suitable length thereof has been fed and grasped between the anvil jaw- I9 and the wire-holding jaw 2I as seen in Fig. 16. The cutter 66 preferably cuts the wire at an angle of approximately 45 so that when the wire is bent to the form of a staple its ends will be pointed. The anvil jaw I9 is pivoted by a stud or screw 68 near the front end of the anvil to a forward extension of a carrier plate 69. The holding jaw 2| is pivoted at its rear end at H to the carrier plate 69 and is drawn toward the anvil jaw I9 by a spring 12. The counter-c1ockwise pivoting of the anvil jaw I9 may be limited by co-action between a slot 13 therein and a pin 14 secured to the plate the holding jaw 2| to release the wire S. The

clockwise pivoting of the jaw I9 is limited by the tail 18 of the jaw I9 which will strike the pivotal portion of the jaw 2|.

After the jaws I9 and 2| grasp the wire S, this wire is cut by the cutter 6S and the jaws I9 and 2| carry the wire to th position shown in dotted lines in Fig, 16 under the fingers I9. The fingers I8 are driven downwardly and bend the wire S about the anvil I9. In so doing they pivot the anvil clockwise and raise the holding jaw 2|. When the bending of the wire to staple form is complete, the jaws I9 and 2| carried by the plate 69 are withdrawn to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 16. The wire or staple S is restrained from being drawn away from the fingers I8 by virtue of notches 99 beginning at the ends of the fingers and extending upwardly on the insides of the fingers. While the jaws I9 and 2I are in their forward position shown in dotted lines, a new portion of the wire is fed between them through the space 19. As the jaws are withdrawn they will slide along this portion of the wire which will force them open until it is positioned and held between the ends of the jaws, in a notch in jaw 2|.

The plate 69 carrying the jaw I9 and 2i is mounted in an extremely simple manner according to this invention, being carried by a long arm 8| which is pivoted at 82 to an upright frame portion 82 of the machine. The arm BI is urged rearwardly by a coil spring 84 which is sprung between the arm BI and a portion of the frame 88. The rearward movement of the arm 8I is adjustably limited by a screw 86. The arm 8| is driven forwardly by a cam 81 keyed to shaft 62 and having a projecting cam portion 88 which engages a cam follower roller 89 carried by the arm 8 I. The roller 99 is mounted in a slot 9| in the arm 8| so that the forward position of the arm BI and consequently of the cut wire S may be adjusted.

When the wire S is positioned below the fingers I8 by the jaws I9 and 2|, the fingers I8 are driven downwardly. The driving force comes from a pivoted lever 93 which is driven V by a crank 94 carried by a shaft 95 which is connected to shaft 62 by gears or a chain and sprockets so that they are driven synchronously. The lever 93 is connected to a link 95 which is pivoted to a slide 91 which slides in a suitable guideway 98 in the frame 83. The slide 91 drives the staple driver 23 which is adjustably secured to the slide 91. It also drives the fingers I8 through a bell crank 99 which makes the fingers I8 move irregularly with respect to the slide 91. The bell crank 99 is pivoted at I9I to an arm I92 carried by the slide 91. On one end of the bell crank lever 99 is a roller I93 which rides in a groove I94. The other end of the bell crank lever 99 is connected by a simas seen in Fig. 1. would raise the slide I91 and fingers I9, but

This pivotal movement alone since it is accompanied by a downward movement of the slide I91, and hence of the bell crank 99, it merely operates to hold the slide I91 and fingers I8 stationary.

The first of these jogs I99 is positioned to hold the fingers I8 stationary after they have bent the wire S about the anvil I9 to form the staple while the staple driver 23 is moved into position approximately at the staple, to back up the staple and prevent it from sliding up into the fingers. The fingers are at their maximum separation at this point and there is less friction on the staple than subsequently in the complete operation. The second jog II9 holds the fingers I8 stationary in juxtaposition to the brush block 52, while the slide 91 and staple driver 23 continue downwardly to drive the staple into the block I2.

It will be observed from Fig. 19 that as the fingers I8 are moved downwardly they initially bend the staple about the anvil I9 so that the staple legs form. a V-shape. This results from the fact that the width of the anvil is less than the distance between the fingers. The staple legs remain spread until after they have straddled the tuft T. This is less necessary than it was in the prior art picker bars where no such narrow tuft could be formed as is possible with the picker bar of my invention, but it is still desirable in the interest of the speed to have the staple legs straddle the tuft T without any interference. The staple is compressed after it has engaged the tuft T and after such compression the staple legs are substantially parallel. The rollers 22 are provided to cooperate with the fingers I9 for the compressing operation. As seen in Figs. 1 and 9, these rollers 22 are supported on studs I|9 carried by brackets I I2 which are adjustab-ly secured on the table I5 of bolts H5 so that they may be accurately positioned to compensate for wear or to adapt the machine to a variety of brushes. As is evident from Figs. 3 and 9 the rollers move in a cavity in the table I5. The rollers 22 engage cam surfaces I I3 formed by the outside edges of the fingers I8.

As the fingers I3 approach the brush block I2, the cam surfaces I53. strike the rollers 22 which press the fingers I8 toward one another slightly thereby compressing the staple S and compacting the tuft T. The amount that the staple Sis compressed will depend upon'the size of the hole in the block I2 into which the staple and tuft are to be driven. Ordinarily the compressing will be very slight, perhaps in the nature of one-sixteenth of an inch. This construction eliminates the original expensive machining required in the prior art cam mechanism for accomplishing the compression, and eliminates the substantially constant maintenance necessary on the prior machines which also involved a serious loss of the use of the machines while repairs were being made.

In order for the staple to straddle the tuft easily and cleanly, and of greater importance, in order to have a firm uniform tuft in a brush, it is necessary for the tuft to be quite well confined. This is accomplished by virtue of having the slot I4 relatively narrow and this in turn is made possible by virtue of the positive packing action of the claw H5 in combination with the packer block I1, or the packer block I1 and the compressing" member I11 as has been previously noted.

As described above, the fingers I8 are pivoted on studs, or the like, I08 secured in the slide I01 (Fig. 9). It should be noted that the fingers I8 are normally urged apart by springs H6 and are limited in this outward movement by coaction between pins II! and slots in the fingers I8. The pins II! also carry a guide plate H8 Which braces the fingers I8 and prevent any movement thereof except a pivotal movement about the pivots I38. One important advantage of the control of fingers I8 by rollers 22 is that the forces exerted on the fingers I8 are applied in a direction directly through the width of each finger, or stating it in another manner, no forces are exerted on the fingers I8 which tend to twist position in the picker bar I3 by virtue of the: I

rounded surfaces H9 and I of the connecting member 34 and the side rest 39.

As previously mentioned, the brush block I2 is held in place by clamp 29 which is actuated by a fluid cylinder 28.

on the frame of the machine, and operates when the valve plunger I23 is in the position shown (supplying air to cylinder 28 through hose I24) to thrust the clamp 29 against the brush block I2. When the valve plunger I23 moves to the left, it closes the connection between the air supply hose I25 and the hose I24 and opens the hose I24 to the exhaust vent I27. This permits the air to escape from the cylinder 28 so that the clamp 29 is drawn away from the block I2 by springs I28, seen best in Fig. 2. The operation of the valve plunger I23 and hence the operation of the clamp 29 are automatic.

As seen in Fig. 12, the valve plunger I23 is held in the right-hand position, as shown, by a cam I3I which in turn is held against rotation by a pawl I32. The cam 24 is shown in the last position during the operation on one brush block (or rather on a pair of brush blocks since holes are drilled in one block while the tufts are secured in another block) As the block is finished, cam 24 will rotate to thrust its follower roller I33 on pivoted lever I34 to the left so that pawl I36 catches in a notch I31 in an adjustable lock bar I38, stopping the machine. At the same time lever I39 rotating with cam 24 strikes the tail I4I of pawl I32 to release cam I3I. The fluid or spring pressure on valve plunger I23, or a separate spring if desired, causes the cam I3I to rotate counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 12 until an associated arm I42 strikes a stop I43. The movement of the cam I 3I permits the plunger I23 toshift to its left-hand position thereby releasing the clamp 29 or rather releasing a clamp 29 on each of the brush block tables. The finished brush is then removed, the brush block which has just been drilled is manually placed on the tufting table, and a new brush block is placed on the drilling table. A trigger I44 on handle I45 is then squeezed to release pawl I36 so that the machine can be started in operation again. Since the high point of the cam 24 has now passed the roller I33, the lever I34 will be drawn inwardly by a spring I41 until the roller The fluid cylinder 28 (Fig. 1) is controlled by a valve I22 (Fig. 12) mounted I33 engages the low point of the cam. During this movement a dog I48 on lever I34 will strike arm I42 and rotate the cam I3I to the position shown in Fig. 12 thereby shifting the valve plunger I23 to the right-hand position. This opens the air supply to the air cylinder 28 and operates the clamps 29 against the brush blocks, thus beginning the automatic operation of the machine. It may be noted that the handle I45 is associated with the brush block holding tables 26 which may be pivoted at a variety of points I49 therebelow depending on the design of the brush.

The detailed discussion of the operation of the machine is included in the foregoing description and the general discussion of the operation appears under a separate heading before the detailed description and therefore need not be repeated here. From the foregoing it is evident that a brush-making machine has been provided which is both simpler and more efficient than such machines used heretofore. It separates the tufts from the supply of brush stock with little or no loss and with great uniformity. It confines the tufts more narrowly so that a more compact, rugged tuft will be secured in a brush to in turn provide a brush of better quality, and so that a staple with approximately parallel sides and a narrower opening may be applied thereover. It is more adaptable to different brushes because of the dependability of the tuft-separating device with all kinds of brush stock and because of the readiness with which the width of the staple can be adjusted. Lost machine time is greatly minimized both during normal operation by virtue of automatic clamping means for the brushes and also as to shut-downs for repairs since the parts which have heretofore needed frequent repair or cleaning have been so greatly simplified that such repair and cleaning are now substantially eliminated.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred embodiment, it is understood that I do not limit the invention thereby, but limit the same only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a brush-making machine, a magazine for brush stock having an open end toward which the brush stock is biased in a direction perpendicular to the individual pieces thereof, and means for separating a tuft from said brush stock, including a picker bar having a slot therein and reciprocating adjacent the open end of the magazine, and having a retaining surface extending horizontally away from the slot on one side thereof and at times positioned to receive the stock thereon at the open end of the magazine, a separating claw extending from the other side of the slot overhanging the slot and dimensioned to extend to a height greater than the height of the horizontal retaining surface, and stationary packing means positioned at one side of the open end of the magazine and always entirely out of said open end for preventing movement of the stock with the retaining surface as the picker bar reciprocates whereby said claw scoops the stock resting on said horizontal surface into said slot thereby forcibly separating it from the remainder of the stock in the magazine, said packing means including a packing portion which ex tends downwardly beyond said retaining surface, and a separating portion substantially in engagement with said horizontal surface extending laterally away from the vertical direction of the magazine with an upwardly beveled face acting to minimize the tendency of the stock to catch between said packing means and the retaining surface.

2. In a brush-making machine, a magazine for brush stock having an open end toward which the brush stock is biased in a direction perpendicular to the individual pieces thereof, and means for separating a tuft from said brush stock, including a bi-part picker bar having a slot intermediate the two parts thereof and reciprocating adjacent the open end of the magazine, with one of said parts having a retaining surface extending away from the slot on one side thereof and at times positioned to receive the stock thereon at the open end of the magazine, a separating claw on the other part extending from the other side of the slot overhanging the slot and dimensioned to extend to a height greater than the height of the retaining surface, and packing means for preventing movement of the stock with the retaining surface as the picker bar reciprocates whereby said claw scoops the stock resting on said surface into said slot thereby forcibly separating it from the remainder of the stock in the magazine, said packing means including a stock separating portion substantially in engagement with said surface and a packing portion extending downwardly below said surface, with said packing means having a channel between said portions for receiving the claw with a sufficiently close fit so that with said packing portion the stock is positively forced down into said slot.

3. In a brush-making machine, means for separating a tuft of stock from a supply of stock, including a magazine for holding the supply of stock in parallel arrangement, reciprocating means including a claw adapted to be moved from one side of said magazine entirely across the same for slicing between the stock, to form a given tuft, and the remainder of the stock, and positively drawing the former from the latter, and means for cleaning said stock from said claw including a packer block having a channeled under portion with side-wall portions adapted to straddle the claw as it leaves the supply of stock, with one of said side-wall portions having an end toward said magazine with a face thereon being bevelled laterally away from said magazine and upwardly to form substantially a pointed portion for engagement with the stock.

4. In a brush-making machine, a magazine for brush stock having an open end toward which the brush stock is biased in a direction perpendicular to the individual pieces thereof, and means for separating a tuft from said brush stock, including a picker bar having a slot therein and reciprocating adjacent the open end of the magazine and substantially entirely across the same, and having a retaining surface extending horizontally away from the slot on one side thereof and at times positioned to receive the stock thereon at the open end of the magazine, a separating claw extending from the other side of the-slot at a height greater than the height of the retaining surface and overhanging the slot, said picker bar having a portion abutting said claw on the same side of the slot therewith which portion is of a lower height than said claw, and stationary packing means for receiving said claw in a straddling position and acting to prevent movement of the stock with the retaining surface as the picker bar reciprocates whereby said claw scoops the stock resting on said surface into said slot thereby forcibly separating it from the remainder of the stock in the magazine, the slot and claw being shaped to form a relatively smooth passage to permit the smooth flow of the stock thereinto, and the lower portion abutting said claw extending to said slot and having an end wall at the slot adjacent the claw rounded, and the leading end of the packing means being beveled away from the leading end to facilitate the packing-coaction between the stationary packing means and the reciprocating picker bar.

5. A brush-making machine, including an open-ended brush stock retaining magazine having brush stock therein, a reciprocating picker bar for removing a substantially measured tuft from said brush stock in the magazine with said picker bar movable across the open end of said magazine, packer means above said picker bar and resilient means on said machine below said picker bar yieldingly supporting said reciprocating picker bar, over substantially its entire reciprocating path and urging said picker bar upwardly against said packer means.

6. A brush-making machine including an openended brush stock retaining magazine having brush stock therein, a reciprocating picker bar for removing a substantially measured tuft from said brush stock in the magazine with said picker bar movable across the open end of said magazine, packer means cooperating with said picker bar to act on the tuft, means on said machine yieldingly supporting said reciprocating bar comprising a member below said picker bar having an elongated channel therein for receiving said picker bar, and resilient means supporting said member for urging the same upwardly to in turn urge said reciprocating picker bar upwardly against the packer means.

'7. A brush-making machine including a rigid frame, a brush stock magazine supported on said frame having a supply of brush stock therein, a picker bar reciprocatingly movable across one end of said magazine having an extending claw thereon for cutting through a substantially measured quantity of brush stock resting on one edge of said picker bar when. said picker bar is beneath said magazine in a loading position, a packer block supported on said frame in the path of movement of said picker bar and adapted to cooperate therewith for separating said substantially measured tuft from said brush stock in the magazine, and means for yieldingly supporting said picker bar including a resiliently mounted supporting member acting to press said picker bar upwardly against said packer block.

8. In a brush-making machine a brush stock magazine having a supply of brush stock therein, means for separating a substantially measured tuft from said brush stock in the magazine including a reciprocating picker bar movable across an open end of said magazine and having a brush-tuft receiving slot therein, a packer block supported on said machine above said picker bar in a position to close said slot during a portion of the movement of said picker bar, and means for compressing the tuft in said slot against said packer block including a pair of rigidly supported members with one of said members on each side of the picker bar and each of said members having a raised portion therein adapted to engage the tuft in said slot and raise the same against thepacker block above said picker bar.

9. In a brush-making machine, staple-forming and carrying apparatus including a vertically reciprocating block, a pair of wire-engaging fingers secured to said block by a pivot at one end of each finger with each finger being entirely pivotally movable at suchpivot,'means for presenting a wire to said fingers and for cooperating therewith to bend the wire to form a staple, means for positioning a tuft to be engaged by the staple and for confining it sufiiciently for it to be readily straddled by the staple, means for moving the fingers to carry the staple and the tuft therein to a brush block, and means for compressing the staple to pinch the tuft laterally as it is moved toward the brush block including stationary means acting directly on each finger intermediate the two ends of each finger and coacting with the fingers to press said fingers toward one another.

10. In a brush-making machine, staple-forming and carrying apparatus including a reciprocating block, a pair of wire-engaging fingers sectu'ed at one end to said block by pivots, means for presenting a wire to said fingers and for co operating therewith to bend the wire to form a staple, means for positioning a tuft to be engaged by the staple and for confining it suificiently for it to be readily straddled by the staple, means for moving the fingers to carry the staple and the tuft therein to a brush block, and means for compressing the staple to pinch the tuft laterally as it is moved toward the brush block including a rotatable roller on a fixed axis corresponding to each finger and each engaging a finger to press said fingers toward one another, said rollers acting directly on the fingers in a direction within a plane perpendicular to and approximately centered in the pivots of the fingers whereby forces tending to twist the fingers on the pivots are avoided.

11. In a brush-making machine, staple-forming and carrying apparatus including a reciprocating block, a pair of wire-engaging fingers pivoted to said block, means for presenting a wire to said fingers and for cooperating therewith to bend the wire to form a staple, means for positioning a tuft to be engaged by the staple and for confining it sufficiently for it to be readily straddled by the staple, means for moving the fingers to carry the staple and the tuft therein to a brush block, and means for compressing the staple to pinch the tuft laterally as it is moved toward the block including stationary means coacting with the fingers to press said fingers toward one another, said fingers: being cam shaped on their outer edges substantially at the lower portions thereof to engage said stationary means.

12. In a brush-making machine, staple-forming and carrying apparatus including a reciproeating block, a pair of wire-engaging fingers pivoted to said block, means for presenting a wire to said fingers and for cooperating therewith to bend the wire to form a staple, means for positioning a tuft to be engaged by the staple and for confining it sufficiently for it to be readily straddled by the staple, means for moving the fingers to carry the staple and the tuft therein to a brush block, and means for compressing the staple to pinch the tuft laterally as it is moved toward the block including stationary means coacting with the fingers to press said fingers toward one another, said fingers being cam shaped on their outer edges to engage said stationary means, and said stationary means being adjustable to produce variations in the action of the fingers without adjusting the moving parts of the machine.

13. In a brush making machine having reciprocating fingers for forming a staple from a cut length of wire and means for producing cut lengths of wire, the combination of means for carrying said out lengths of wire from the position of their formation to the reciprocating fingers including an arm, axis means supporting said arm at one end, means for pivoting said arm about said axis means, and cooperating means at the other end of said arm and carried entirely thereby movable in an arcuate path with such other end of said arm to directly carry the wire to the fingers, said cooperating means including an anvil member pivotally carried by the arm, and a clamp member cooperating with the anvil member to hold the cut length of wire therebetween as the arm is pivoted.

14. In a brush-making machine, reciprocating fingers for forming a staple from a cut length of wire, means for producing cut lengths of wire, and means for carrying said out lengths of wire from the position of their formation to the reciprocating fingers including a movable anvil member and a clamp member for cooperating with the anvil member to hold the cut length of wire thereon as the anvil is moved to present the wire to the reciprocating fingers, said clamp member being pivoted at one end, and said anvil member being pivoted near its wire-holding end and engaging the clamp member at a point remote from the pivot of the anvil but between the wire-holding end and the pivot of the clamp member whereby a slight rotation of the anvil likewise pivots the clamp and removes said clamp from clamping position.

15. In a brush-making machine, reciprocating members for forming a staple from a cut length of wire, means for producing cut lengths of wire and means for carrying said out lengths of wire from the position of cutting to the reciprocating members, said carrying means including a rigid arm pivotally supported at one end thereof and free-swinging at the other end thereof, an anvil member and a clamp member each pivotally mounted on said rigid arm at the other end thereof in adjacent position for cooperating with one another in holding the out length of wire therebetween, and each pivotable independently of the other a spring secured to said arm for normally pulling the arm and the anvil and clamp members thereon out of the path of movement of said reciprocating members, and driving means acting on said arm to urge said arm intermediate the two ends thereof toward said reciprocating members against the force of said spring.

16. In a brush-making machine, reciprocating fingers for forming a staple from a cut length of wire, means for producing out lengths of wire, and means for carrying said cut lengths of wire from the position of cutting to the reciprocating fingers including an anvil member, and a clamp member for cooperating with the anvil member to hold the cut length of wire thereon, and an arm pivotally supported at one end for supporting said clamp member and anvil member directly thereon, with said clamp member and anvil member moving over a path emending through an arc of a circle described by the end of said pivoted arm, said reciprocating fingers being shaped to engage said wire and form the same over said anvil during the reciprocating movement of said fingers.

17. In a brush-making machine having means for separating a tuft from a supply of brush stock and presenting said tuft in a position to be driven into a brush block, means for carrying said tuft to said brush block and securing it therein including a pair of vertically reciprocating staple forming fingers, and wire carrying and staple forming means comprising a pivotally supported arm and a pair of jaws each pivotally supported directly on said arm and movable therewith to carry a piece of wire between said jaws for presenting the same to said fingers, and with said fingers acting to engage said wire and bend the same over one of said jaws, and thereafter carrying the bent wire downwardly to straddle said tuft to carry said tuft therewith to the brush block.

18. In a brush-making machine, a table for carrying a brush block, means for operating on said brush block at a given position, automatic control means for moving the table to present various portions of the brush block to said operating means and for stopping movement when the brush is completed, a clamp on the table for holding the brush block, means including a fluid system, a fiuid cylinder and piston for operating the clamp, a fluid control valve automatically operated by the control means for releasing the clamp when the operations on the brush block are finished, and means automatically operated upon starting the machine for operating the valve to actuate the clamp.

19. In a brush making machine a table for carrying a brush block, means for operating on said brush block at a given position thereof, clam-ping means on said table for releasably retaining the brush block thereon, means including a fluid system, a fluid cylinder and piston for operating the clamp, a fluid control valve for regulating the movement of fluid in said cylinder, said control valve having a spring pressed plunger therein and a plurality of valve parts closed or remaining open depending upon the particular position of the plunger, automatic control means acting to determine the position of the plunger and control the movement of the table carrying the brush block thereon including an enlarged rotatable cam moving the table to present various portions of the brush block to said operating means and for stopping the move ment of said table when the brush is completed, a release member movable corresponding to said cam, means operatively connecting said release member with said plunger to cause the movement of said plunger to release the clamp at the stopping position of said table, and manually operated means for originally setting said table and actuating said control valve for clamping a brush block thereon.

20. In a brush-making machine having means for forming a staple from a cut length of Wire, means for carrying a cut length of wire to said forming means including an arm pivotally supported at one end and free swinging at the other end, means intermediate the ends of said arm for swinging said arm toward the forming means, with said other end of said arm having a portion rigid with respect thereto, a Wire-clamp member pivotally supported at one end on said portion, and an anvil member pivotally mounted on said portion with the pivot point thereof being intermediate the ends of said anvil member, said anvil member having a raised edge portion intermediate the pivot point thereof and the pivot point for said wire-clamp member, with said anvil member upon pivotal movement thereof acting at said raised edge to pivot said wire-clamp member to release a cut length of wire from between said anvil member and said clamp member.

JOHN G. BAUMGARTNER. 

